Victoria retains bottom rank for business climate as leaders promise tax cuts

The Business Council of Australia's annual Regulation Rumble report confirmed Victoria as the least desirable state for starting a business for the third consecutive year, citing high payroll, property and licensing taxes as key obstacles. South Australia was ranked the best state for the fourth year, while the ACT led on insurance premium taxation. Victoria also fell to the bottom in planning speed, with major reforms not expected to take effect until 2027.

At a Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry event in Melbourne, Premier Ben Carroll pledged a shift from large-scale construction to a "social build" and promised land-tax cuts and greater engagement with the business community. Opposition leader Jess Wilson outlined a coalition plan to achieve a cash surplus by 2032 through spending discipline, selling the Melbourne Market for $550 million, and halting the Suburban Railway Loop project. Both major parties, along with One Nation, committed to various tax-relief measures, including payroll tax thresholds and the removal of insurance stamp duty.